• The Library of Lost and Found

  • By: Phaedra Patrick
  • Narrated by: Imogen Church
  • Length: 10 hrs and 28 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,470 ratings)

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The Library of Lost and Found  By  cover art

The Library of Lost and Found

By: Phaedra Patrick
Narrated by: Imogen Church
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Publisher's summary

A librarian’s discovery of a mysterious book sparks the journey of a lifetime in the delightful new novel from the international bestselling author of The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper

Librarian Martha Storm has always found it easier to connect with books than people—though not for lack of trying. She keeps careful lists of how to help others in her superhero-themed notebook. And yet, sometimes it feels like she’s invisible.

All of that changes when a book of fairy tales arrives on her doorstep. Inside, Martha finds a dedication written to her by her best friend—her grandmother Zelda—who died under mysterious circumstances years earlier. When Martha discovers a clue within the book that her grandmother may still be alive, she becomes determined to discover the truth. As she delves deeper into Zelda’s past, she unwittingly reveals a family secret that will change her life forever.

Filled with Phaedra Patrick’s signature charm and vivid characters, The Library of Lost and Found is a heartwarming and poignant tale of how one woman must take control of her destiny to write her own happy ending.

©2019 Phaedra Patrick (P)2019 Harlequin Enterprises, Limited

What listeners say about The Library of Lost and Found

Average customer ratings
Overall
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Fine Line between quirky and ludicrous.....

...was crossed. The characters started in the familiar dysfunctional family storyline: Everybody Hurting But Some Characters Try To Cope, Understand, Forgive, Grow-up, Move-on, Etc. Despite the cliched plot the lead characters and general writing were very charming- largely due to an EXCELLENT narrator! But, as the story progressed and more was revealed the ending became a political statement leaving the characters reactions and behaviors .....rather absurd....Silly.

Postscriptrant: Bet I’m older than many (okay, most) of y’all. I’ve read many books (NOT most). I am rising out of the walker to say “I am tired of all the political agendas often crudely shoved into endings to explain/justify all the dysfunction we just read (even if I agree). No subtlety. They have become the new ‘Deus Ex Machina’.
Just sayin’....”
(All done, thanks.....I’m taking my C-PAP to bed!)

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178 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

SWEET BUT FRUSTRATING AND SO POLITICALLY OUT OF DATE

I am sorry, but no matter how Phaedra Patrick tried to sugar coat and make it about toleration for others, the father was abusive and disgusting and an all together despicable human being not worthy of forgiveness. I found the mother, Betty, although a typical victim of abuse, frustrating. I certainly did not think Zelda needed to apologize for trying to stand up to the bullying . All in all too many excuses for the father’s behavior. Ruined the story for me and made me wonder if the author herself had dealt with such abuse and was still looking for ways to forgive. I wasn’t particularly impressed with the way Martha handled the truth either, even though I realize she was trying to emphasize that this behavior passes on. I can appreciate the way Ms Patrick tried to weave these tentacles together but I wasn’t fooled. A real fairy tale ending but I wasn’t happy. I am 74 by the way and not a feminist but I do respect strength of character and kindness and toleration for the human condition. I have witnessed it all as I grew up my own family complete with tragedies and disappointments and moments of ecstasy. I agree with the author that we should live in the moment. Sadly, I would not recommend this book.

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70 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Undecided

I’m not really sure how I feel about this book. The narration was fantastic (which is what kept me listening) and yes, the characters were “real” but I’m not sure how I feel about the story line itself. It didn’t leave me happy, sad, motivated or anything at all really. There were no Ah Ha! moments, nothing pulled at my heartstrings and there was nothing that made me laugh out loud even though the author does have a sense of humor. The main character is passive and meek and lets everybody take advantage of her and then she doesn’t but she really didn’t take control of her life either.. It’s a story, not terrible but not great either. For me it was just “good”.

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65 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

I found “The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper” by accident, and was delighted by the story. That lead me to read Patrick’s second, and now third, book. Yet, each book seems to have less charm than the next. This may be my final book by this author.

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21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Not As Good As “Arthur Pepper”

3.5 stars
Too many unlikeable characters and the exposition is too drawn out. Could have been an interesting concept, but ultimately too predictable.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A delicious book to get lost in!

I recommend, The Library of Lost and Found, to readers who delight in falling into a good book. If you enjoy stepping into Narnia or taking the train to Hogwarts, you will enjoy this book! Imogene Church, narrates with the perfect accent and excitement, that this book deserves.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

How to tame your family of origin

This was a wonderful coming of age story about a very late bloomer who mistook her existence as a woman to me that of a doormat.

Great relationships with the characters who were quite well developed.

Highly recommended.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

loved this

Imogen Church is my favorite narrator so far bringing the characters to life with well defined different voices. It was a joy to listen to and the story while somewhat predictable was very entertaining and charming. There was never conversation or prose to fill in the pages, each word carried the story onward with humor (very difficult to write) and charm.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Lovely Redemption Story

This story of redemption, forgiveness and restoration encouraged me to face similar shortcomings in my own life. It seems easier to call out flaws in a character,
This novel calls us to be involved in the relationships of a family at war with itself. It’s easy to give advice to fictional characters, but that’s not enough. I need to see the ugly corners of my life, face them honestly and make improvements. This was one of those novels that helped me to do just that! I loved Martha’s introspection, forgiveness and redemption. One person in a family can be the linchpin to unlock long held hurts and misunderstandings. When Martha was willing to release family inflicted pain she was able
To inspire the entire family to do the same.
I loved being in on that difficult journey!
Who said it is easy?
I loved her inner voice and her Audible voice created by the excellent narrator.
A+

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A touching story about finding yourself

This book is a charming story of how someone can lose track of their own aspirations and dreams in the daily responsibilities of being an adult. And how a gift from your past can help you to recapture your former life once thought gone forever. The story is told in a gentile, sensitive way as Martha, the grown up child who has put her life on hold to care for her parents, receives a book with an inscription from her long dead grandmother Zelda. The only thing is that the inscription is dated 3 years after her grandmother died! The search for the truth opens up some answers and also a number of new mysteries to solve.
I loved the story and the brilliant performance of the reader as she brought all of the characters off the page to tell me their stories.

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3 people found this helpful